Electric lighting device



May 4, 1937. w. F. sHEPPARD l ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1935 jaa/f- Patented May 4, 15937? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE William F. Sheppard, Chicago, Ill. Y Application November 11, 1935, Serial No. 49,179

2 Claims.` (Cl. 240-81) This invention relates to new and useful improvements'in electric lighting devices and more particularly to a lamp or lighting fixture arranged so that the conductor cord may be extended from or lretracted within a lamp base as the lamp is moved towards or from a power outlet to which the end of the cord may b e attached.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a more simplified mechanism for retracting a conductor cord within the base of a lamp or permittingthe cord to be extended therefrom which is arranged with a view towards eliminating all complicated mechanisms which have heretofore been provided for winding the cord within the base and eliminating the usual electrical contacts within the base and rendering the device more safe and eiiicient than formerly.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of an electric lamp illustrating one form in which my invention may be embodied; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the device shown in Figure l.

In the drawing, the embodiment of my invention illustrated includes a hollow base I0 forming a support for a lamp standard, generally indicated by reference character Il. Said standard is provided with a bracket l2 at the upper end thereof which is adapted to have a lamp supporting arm I3 mounted thereon in a usual manner. Said lamp supporting arm, as herein shown, forms a support means for a light socket I4 for a suitable electric bulb of a usual construction. A double conductor electric cord I6 of an ordinary construction is adapted to extend from said light socket through said supporting arm and standard and downwardly from said base through an outlet Il in said base.

The standard II and the novel arrangement of the parts for permitting the cord I6 to be extended from or retracted within the base I0, as herein shown, comprises a tube or pipe I9 extending through an opening in the central upper portion of the base I and mounted therein for pivotal movement with respect thereto. 'I'he lower end of said tube extends through a suitable opening in a support member 20 which extends across and is secured to the inside of said hollow base by suitable machine screws, indicated by reference character 2l. A suitable member 22 is threaded on the lower end of said tube and is disposed adjacent the under side of the support member 2l) a distance sufficient to provide clearance between the under side of said support member and the upper side of said member.

A tube 23 is threaded within the upper end of the tube I9 and extends upwardly therefrom. Said tube has the bracket I2 threaded on its upper end. A suitable collar 24 encircles the tube 23 and abuts the upper end of the tube I9 and the upper side of the base I0. A tube 25 encloses the tube 23 and is interposed between said collar and the bracket l2 for holding said collar from movement with respect to said tube and permitting said lamp standard to be supported on said base and be rotatably moved with respect thereto.

The means for retracting the cord I6 within the base I0 or permitting said cordv to be extended therefrom comprises a reel 26 secured to the tube I9 for rotation therewith. As herein shown, said reel comprises a lower ange 2l secured to the under side of a hub 29 and abutting a washer 30 adapted to rest on the top side of the support member 20. An upper flange 3| is secured to the upper surface of said hub and is of a smaller diameter than said lower flange to conform to the inner periphery of said base.

The hub 29 has a radial opening 32 therein in alignment with a similar opening formedA in the tube I9. Said openings have an insulating tube extending therethrough which forms an insulating opening through which the cord I6 may be trained.

Thus, the cord I6 may be trained through the insulating tube 32 and wound around the reel 26, and when the lamp is a considerable distance from the power outlet to which a suitable plug 34 on the end of said cord may be connected, tension on said cord as said plug is moved towards said outlet will rotate said reel and the lamp standard II. As said lamp is moved towards the power outlet, rotation of said standard will wind said cord on said reel and retract it within said base.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a novel means of a simplified construction has been provided for retracting the lamp cord I6 Within the base I0 as the lamp is moved towards the power outlet, or permitting said cord to be extended therefrom, and that this means enables excess cord which might otherwise lie on the floor to be contained within the lamp base in a simple and safe manner. It will also be seen that this means is of such a construction as to eliminate all complicated mechanisms for winding the cord on the reel and eliminate all electrical contacts within the lamp base which have heretofore been provided for conducting current to the lamp, and permits the use of one continuous cord from the lamp socket to the power outlet.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the arrangement of the various parts and the construction thereof may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In an electric lamp, a hollow base having an i open upper end, a support member' secured'to the inside of and extending across said base, a, y

lamp standard supported by said base and having a portion abutting theV upper end of said base and another portion extending through said open upper end of said base and said support member and supported by said base and support member for rotation with respect thereto, said standard being hollow and having an electric cord trained therethrough and through openings in said standard andbase to a power outlet, and means for paying off said cord from said base or winding said cord within said base as said lamp is moved towards or from said power outlet comprising a reel having an apertured hub mounted on said standard for rotation therewith, the apertured portion of said hubl being in alignment with the opening in said standard whereby said cord may be trained therethrough and rotation of said standard in one direction or another will wind cord on or permit cord to be payed from saidv reel.

2. In an electric lamp, a hollow base having an open upper end, a support member secured to the inside of and extending across said base, a lamp standard having a portion abutting the upper end of said base and another portion extending through said open upper end of said base and said support member and supported by said e base and support member for rotation with respect thereto, said standard being hollow and having anelectric cord trained therethrough and through openings in said standard and base to a power outlet, andmeans for paying off said cord from said base or winding said cord within said base as said lamp is moved towards or from said power outlet comprising a reel having an apertured hub mounted on said standard for rotation therewith, the apertured portion of said hub being in alignment with the opening in said standard and having an insulating tube extending therethrough whereby said cord may be trained through said tube and wound around said reel whereby rotation of said standard in onedirection or another will wind cordI on or permit cord to be payed from said reel.

WILLIAM F. SHEPPARD. 

